In northeastern Alberta, the sound of hooves on metal and snow broke through a fierce blizzard at a Métis-operated ranch. Twenty shaggy wood bison emerged from a metal shipping container, sprinting into a fenced area of the boreal forest. Cheers and embraces filled the air as the herd vanished into the snowstorm. This marked the first bison stampede in about 120 years at the Willow Lake Métis Nation.
Around 30 elders and leaders from the community welcomed the herd that had been relocated from Elk Island National Park. The bison now reside on a ranch managed by the Métis near Anzac, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray.
Robert Cree, an elder from the nearby Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, expressed his joy at the return of the bison to their traditional lands. He reminisced about the presence of buffalo in the area years ago, as passed down by his grandfather.
The opening of the ranch is deemed a historic milestone by Métis leaders for both the Indigenous community and the animals. Kyle Whitford, an Indigenous guardian for Willow Lake Métis Nation, highlighted the significance of the herd for food sustainability, referring to it as bringing the wood bison back to Wood Buffalo.
The bison are part of a $50-million food sustainability plan at Willow Lake, with plans for the herd to inhabit a portion of the ranch alongside other agricultural ventures like hens, honey bees, greenhouses, and community gardens. This initiative also aims to enhance sovereignty by allowing the community to shape its environment.
Future plans include cultural and tourism initiatives such as an Indigenous medicine walk, educational partnerships, and the development of a visitors’ center. The involvement of elders in the bison harvest is seen as an opportunity to pass down traditional knowledge and skills while providing sustenance for Métis families.
The project is expected to help reduce food and living expenses in the region by reintroducing a sustainable lifestyle. Nathaniel Ostashewski, owner of Cyrus Bison, is advising Willow Lake on ranching practices and predicts further growth of the herd. The lush environment and long summer days in the area are conducive to the bison’s well-being, promoting plant growth and enhancing the ecosystem.
Overall, the return of the bison to Métis land is viewed as a positive step towards food sovereignty and cultural revitalization.
